Junior League stuffs backpacks with supplies to help foster children
Goshen. “You just know the backpacks and all the supplies the Junior League puts inside are going to kids who really, really need them," says Lauren Rowley, Backpack Project Chair.
Goshen /
| 23 Oct 2019 | 07:13
From left: Junior League member Natalie Rostran, Kim Regensdorfer, Orange County Department of Social Services; Junior League President-Elect Rachel Losee; and Junior League President and committee chairwoman, Lauren Rowley. (Not pictured: Junior League member Danielle Henry, who joined shortly after the photo was taken.) (
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The Junior League of Orange County recently delivered 40 backpacks filled with school supplies like notebooks, folders, pens, and colored pencils.
"The kids we help and serve just want to fit in and have a nice backpack like the other kids do," said Kim Regensdorfer of the Orange County Department of Social Services, who arranges for the delivery of the backpacks to children who are entering or “at risk” of entering into the foster care system. The backpacks ensure that these children have the supplies they need to be successful in their studies.
“Sometimes it doesn't seem like such a big deal putting together these backpacks, but we realize how important it is as soon as we deliver them," said Lauren Rowley, Backpack Project Chair. “Everyone in the Orange County Department of Social Services office is so appreciative. You just know the backpacks and all the supplies the Junior League puts inside are going to kids who really, really need them.”
Rachel Losee, president-elect of Junior League of Orange County, said, "You never realize how impactful a project can be to our community, or to ourselves for that matter, until the day of. It felt amazing being alongside my fellow Junior League members delivering these much-needed items to these children. Projects like this capture the sentiment of wanting to do more for my community."
The league extends a special thank you to Jansport for its generous backpack donation, as well as for private donations from local supporters.
For more information about this project or the JLOC, call 344-8554, email jlocny@gmail.com or visit jlocny.org.
About the Junior League of Orange County
The Junior League of Orange County is part of an international organization of women, The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. (AJLI) with more than 150,000 members in 292 communities in the US, the UK, Canada and Mexico, committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. The Junior League of Orange County reaches out to women of all races, religions, and national origins who demonstrate an interest in and commitment to volunteerism.